October 20, 2023

Friends,   

I hope you and your family are well! I wanted to provide you with a few updates regarding what’s going on –

We Need a Speaker of the House

There's been a lot going on in the chaotic election for the Speaker of the House. I wanted to give you an update on exactly what's been happening in Washington. Since there are so many moving pieces, this is the most up to date notes as of 11am today.

On Tuesday, October 3, eight Republicans voted to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House.

The House Republican Conference held a vote to determine our Speaker designee. I was one of the first to endorse Jim Jordan and proudly voted for him.

The majority of the Conference placed their support in Rep. Steve Scalise. I was willing to support Rep. Scalise because I respect the primary process—just like I expect Republicans to support Donald Trump if he wins the primary process.

Other Members were not willing to abide by the results of the primary and blocked Rep. Scalise who subsequently removed his name from consideration.

I again placed my support and vote with Jim Jordan as the Conference voted to select a new Speaker designee. I proudly voted for Jim Jordan on the House Floor twice.

Unfortunately, Members were not willing to abide by the results of the primary and blocked Rep. Jim Jordan.

House Republicans must stop fighting with fellow Republicans and get back to fighting reckless policies from the Democrats—that's why we were sent to Congress.

Jim Jordan is clearly the People's choice for Speaker. We must come together to do what the People want.

America is tired of “business as usual” governing coming from Washington. That governing has led to $33 trillion in debt, COVID-related lockdowns, and the weaponization of government against the rights and liberties of Americans.

Conservative fighters like Jim Jordan are a threat to the “business as usual” mindset.

That’s why advocates for big government and unchecked spending are trying to thwart Jim’s efforts to lead the U.S. House of Representatives as Speaker.

I voted for Jim Jordan on the first ballot and will vote for him as long as he puts his name forward—the second, tenth, hundredth, or thousandth ballot if that’s what it takes!

Time to Make a Stand

I stand unapologetically with Israel in their fight for survival. It’s time to end Hamas terrorists who behead babies and kill civilians while they sleep.

Abhorrently, pro-Palestine, antisemitic rallies are breaking out across America. 

America welcomes individuals around the world to follow the legal process to come to this country for tourism, work, or academic study. However, we specifically prohibit visas to anyone who supports terrorist regimes in Section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

If you're a visitor to our country and support Hamas’ gruesome murder of innocent babies and killing people while they sleep, then you do not get to remain in America and enjoy freedoms that are antithetical to the terrorist extremists you support.

Americans refuse to allow antisemitic terrorist sympathizers to create home-grown terrorist cells on our soil. Americans should never support terrorists over innocent people fighting for freedom from oppression.

Hamas has killed Americans and is holding our fellow citizens hostage while visa holders celebrate in our streets.

I refuse to sit idly by while terrorist supporters dance on the graves of Americans.

Today, I issued a letter with Rep. Jim Banks to Secretaries Blinken and Mayorkas to seek enforcement of Section 212(a)(3)(B)(i)(VII) of the INA which states:

"Any alien - who endorses or espouses terrorist activity or persuades others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization… is inadmissible."

Let me share some examples of the vile antisemitic rhetoric coming from universities in America.

The Tufts Students for Justice in Palestine (Tufts SJP) posted “Since Friday, Palestinians have been launching a historic attack on the colonizers…Footage of liberation fighters from Gaza paragliding into occupied territory has especially shown the creativity necessary to take back stolen land.”

At Berkley, Bears for Palestine had a statement of solidarity for the “Resistance Uprising in Gaza” which says, “We support the resistance, we support the liberation movement, and we indisputably support the Uprising.”

Various student organizations at Harvard also signed a letter placing the blame for the attacks on Israel.

Shortly after terrorist paragliders brutally attacked innocent festivalgoers in Israel, the Chicago Black Lives Matter Chapter posted a graphic of a paraglider with the Palestinian flag that read “I Stand with Palestine.”

Thank you to Representatives August Pfluger (TX), Harriet Hageman (WY), Scott DesJarlais (TN), Michael Waltz (FL), Josh Brecheen (OK), Ralph Norman (SC), Randy Weber (TX), Bill Johnson (OH), Bill Posey (FL), Mike Carey (OH), George Santos (NY), Lauren Boebert (CO), Clay Higgins (LA), Gus Bilirakis (FL), Claudia Tenney (NY), Brian Babin (TX), and Trent Kelly (MS) for joining Rep. Banks and I on this effort.

Antisemitism in Congress

I'm appalled that Rep. Rashida Tlaib would use Hamas talking points blaming Israel for bombing a hospital. This claim was refuted by intelligence that points to Palestinian Islamic Jihad as the culprit. Rep. Tlaib, stop your anti-Semitic rhetoric!

First Amendment Rights Being Infringed

On Monday, we once again saw the Department of (in)Justice chilling Donald Trump’s First Amendment rights as Judge Chutkan granted a gag order against President Trump.

While he is being prosecuted in the Court of Public Opinion by the left, Trump is being told he cannot defend himself and speak out against the partisan which hunt against him.

This is the sort of action you’d expect in a banana republic, not a free America.

Biden Empties America's Strategic Oil Reserves

I have been sounding the alarm about Joe Biden draining the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) at the expense of our energy security to cover up his failed energy policies.

Because of Joe Biden using the SPR as a political slush fund, there is only 17 days worth of oil available if we are forced to rely solely on the SPR. Just imagine, 17 days of oil if adversaries cut America off.

This reckless, unsustainable decision-making leaves America vulnerable and incapable of assisting our allies in the event of a natural disaster, national emergency, or international crisis.

Fifty years ago, Middle Eastern countries embargoed oil to America because we stood with Israel as they were attacked by Arab countries. The result was widespread gas shortages, a struggling economy, and skyrocketing prices.

In the 1970s, the gas shortages led to riots and families struggling to make ends meet with the increasing costs. The SPR was created following the oil crisis to ensure America never faced a similar situation again.

Today, Hamas wages war on Israel, and the cost of oil immediately increased by around 4%. America and our allies are dependent on the Middle East for oil because Joe Biden wants “to stop all drilling.”

For those who lived through the crisis fifty years ago, we know the world today is in a more tumultuous situation—a failing economy, terrorists running rampant, and Americans being killed or taken hostage. Joe Biden forgot the lessons learned in the 1970s.

The Biden Administration turns its back on commonsense, America-first energy policies. We have vast reserves of natural resources at our fingertips, but Joe Biden would rather force you to depend on Russia and China for energy.

Biden stopped drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska despite it delivering jobs as well as oil and natural gas to support American energy dominance.

On the heels of a failed negotiation with Iran, the leading sponsor of Terrorism, Joe Biden is now negotiating with President Maduro of Venezuela to make up for the Biden Administration’s failed energy policies that result in the United States not being able to maintain our energy security.

Biden drains our strategic petroleum reserve with no plan to refill, shuts down pipeline capacity in America, and closes off large parts of the country from energy production while turning to our adversaries to meet America's energy needs.

Joe Biden needs to stop negotiating with terrorists and a dictator and instead support American interests.

America needs to utilize our vast natural resources by approving offshore drilling and re-opening drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve.

Just like the Energy & Commerce Committee is doing for countless energy resources, we must streamline permitting and ensure it is predictable. I am proud of the work my Committee is doing now, to combat Joe Biden’s attempt to pick and choose winners in the energy industry.

As America becomes energy independent and utilizes our vast natural resources, we become a competitor in the global market and can export oil to our allies. This allows them to cease their dependence on China and Russia while also forcing the price of oil to decline due to competition in the marketplace.

Worldwide Travel Warning

Due to global unrest and the risk of terrorist attacks, the Department of State has issued a global travel warning for American citizens. If you have any travel planned, please consult the Department of State's website for more information to ensure your safety while abroad.

Legislative Action

I cosponsored HR 5949, Rep. Matthew Rosendale’s bill to strengthen privacy standards for legal gun owners.

I cosponsored HR 5948, Rep. Matthew Rosendale’s bill to remove the Office of Gun Violence Prevention from the Executive Office of the President and prevent the creation of any similar positions in the future.

I cosponsored HR 5947, Rep. August Pfluger’s bill to prevent Iran from accessing the $6 billion that was unfrozen by the Biden Administration in September 2023.

In the District

Yesterday, FN America broke ground on a new manufacturing facility in Liberty, South Carolina. FN is investing $33 million in the 100,000-square-foot plant. The plant brings almost 176 jobs to the Third District.

Anderson County is going back in time after the only two elevators in the Anderson County courthouse have been shut down due to bad parts. So that citizens with disabilities would not be forced to claim the countless stairs in the Courthouse, the Court is using makeshift facilities including an old 19th-century courtroom. It's great to see the Court being flexible and finding ways to make visits from citizens easier!

Have you heard of the I2I 50-mile yard sale? Hundreds of South Carolinians set up yard sales across Laurens, Newberry, and Chester counties following Interstates 26 and 77. This annual event has brought visitors to the local communities for the past 10 years.

It is an honor to serve the Third District of South Carolina. Should you or your family need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact my office directly.